Complying with legislation on electronic waste
European legislation on electronic waste came into force in several countries in 2006/07. We have taken steps to ensure our compliance.
RoHS
We worked with our suppliers to phase out the substances restricted by the European Union’s Restriction of the use of certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (RoHS) Directive that came into force on the 1st July 2006. During 2008/09 we will assess our suppliers' compliance against environmental legislation requirements.
This Directive bans the placing on the EU market of new electrical and electronic equipment containing more than agreed levels of lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) and polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants.
WEEE
In European Union countries, we comply with the Waste Electrical and Electronic Waste (WEEE) Directive. This requires companies to take back and recycle used electronic and electrical equipment at the end of their useful life. In some of the countries where we operate our own handset recycling schemes meet the criteria for compliance. In other countries we also participate in national schemes.
Mobile Phone Partnership Initiative
Vodafone participates in the Mobile Phone Partnership Initiative (MPPI), which brings together mobile phone companies, waste and recycling experts, and non-profit organisations.
The MPPI has developed guidelines for collecting and refurbishing old mobile phones, recovering materials from and recycling end-of-life mobile phones, and the movement of collected phones between countries.
In June 2008, the MPPI will present a summary of the guidelines for adoption by signatory countries of the Basel Convention on the transportation and disposal of hazardous substances. The guidelines are available on the MPPI website.